HARRIS---The third meeting this season between the North Central Jets and Carney-Nadeau Wolves played out pretty much the way that everybody thought it would.
Quite frankly, this game was an all-out war. Both physically and mentally.
In the end, the Jets had more depth and were able to fend off the Wolves, 65-57, Friday night, to win the Class D district championship at Bark River-Harris High School.
"It's two terrific teams, two terrific communities," Carney-Nadeau Coach Jake Polfus said. "It was a game we expected. I felt that if we could get the lead, we could get a little momentum. But it seemed like we could never get over that hump."
NCA senior Rob Granquist was appreciative of Friday night's battle.
"They're a great team," Granquist said. "It feels great. This was a great test."
NCA senior Trevor Ekberg echoed Granquist's thoughts.
"They wanted it just as bad we we did," Ekberg said. "It was just a great game overall."
This game was played before a crowd that filled the Bark River-Harris gym on both sides, as well as in the balcony.
Parking spots were at a premium, as many people resorted to parking their cars alongside US-2 all the way to the Island Resort and Casino entrance.
It was loud inside the gym all night long, with the NCA and Carney student sections cheering for virtually all 32 minutes of play.
Things got wild at one point in the second quarter when a Menominee County Sheriff's Deputy had to eject a rowdy fan. But on the court, it was simply 32 minutes of intense basketball, between a group of guys who know each other so well that there were no secrets about what would transpire.
"We had our chances," Polfus said. "We had a layup where we missed, we missed some free throws, we had a couple turnovers where we were going 100 miles per hour."
North Central had the lead pretty much all night long, but could not shake the determined Wolves. The Jets led, 19-14, after the first quarter, but when Wolves sophomore Manuel Duran drained a three-pointer, the game was tied at 31-31.
Then came a big turning point, as the Jets scored the final ten points of the first half to take a 41-31 lead into the dressing room.
With 2.6 seconds left in the half, Ekberg was fouled while shooting a three. As he was going to the line, Polfus was called for a technical foul that gave the Jets the chance to score five points, and have possession of the ball with 2.6 seconds left.
Ekberg made two of the three free throws, then Granquist sank both of his foul shots. Ekberg then threw up a desperation shot that missed, although he thought he was fouled.
"That was a big momentum switch for us, being able to get that ten-point lead going into half," NCA Coach Adam Mercier said. "But you're never comfortable with a lead against Carney."
"It was just too much buit-up anger," Polfus said of his technical. "I went in the locker room at the half and calmed myself. Did a lot better job in the second half of being calm. I have to learn to do that a little bit better."
Polfus regrouped his kids, and the Wolves made it tough for the Jets to score in the third quarter.
Carney closed to within 47-45 late in the quarter, and the Jets were in foul trouble, having been whistled 12 times to just two fouls on the Wolves.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Granquist came through with a str0ng drive to the basket for two. That made it a 49-45 game, and settled the Jets' nerves a bit.
"I thought that was huge," Mercier said. "Robbie is just a natural leader. He just steps up at big times. He hit a big shot there. They had the momentum going because we had a really poor offensive third quarter.
"I thought he came through with a big bucket there and it gave us some breathing room heading into the fourth quarter," Mercier continued.
"Coach just told me to go hard to the rim," Granquist said. "Take the opening and get to the rim and see if I could make it. And it went in."
In the fourth quarter, the game remained close, but Carney never could gain the lead.
The Jets had to be careful, though, because they were in severe foul trouble.
"We had four kids with four fouls (each)," Mercier said. "I thought we'd be able to withstand foul trouble because of our bench. Tyler Polfus and Caleb Martin came off the bench and gave us some great minutes tonight. We hung in there."
"We've got a very deep bench," Ekberg said. "We've got freshmen that can play."
A killer for the Wolves happened with less than a minute left in the game when freshman Jason Whitens stole an inbounds pass and scored.
Lights out!
When it was over, there was a lot of respect from the Jets players toward the Wolves.
"They play hard and Jake is a great coach," Granquist said of the Wolves. "These guys are gonna come out and give you everything they've got. We were just able to come out on top."
"This is huge," Ekberg said. "Us seniors have been playing against their seniors for four years now. We know each other like the back of each other's hands. We both came out fighting. Neither one of us wanted to lose this game."
And from Carney's point of view?
"I thought we had our chances that we wanted," Polfus said. "A lot of shots that went in-and-out. Give North Central credit. They fought back each and every time."
Granquist led the Jets with 20 points, while Vincent added 19 and Whitens contributed 14. North Central stayed undefeated on the season with a 23-0 record.
For the Wolves, Lampinen led the way with 22 points and Austin Johnson had 14 points. DuPont scored eight points. Carney-Nadeau finished its season with an 18-5 record.
"Being a coach, it never gets any easier," Polfus said. "Losing these five seniors, and the way they've grown over this year, it's really tough."
For North Central, the dream lives on.
The boys will make the short trip to Escanaba for the regional tournament Monday night, where they will face the Munising Mustangs.
Munising is 19-3, with two of its losses coming to the Jets. Game time is 6:00 ET/5:00 CT at the Escanaba High School Gym Monday night. The second semifinal pits Crystal Falls Forest Park against Lake Linden-Hubbell, at 7:45 ET/6:45 CT.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, and to listen to post-game interviews.
Quite frankly, this game was an all-out war. Both physically and mentally.
In the end, the Jets had more depth and were able to fend off the Wolves, 65-57, Friday night, to win the Class D district championship at Bark River-Harris High School.
NCA senior Rob Granquist was appreciative of Friday night's battle.
"They're a great team," Granquist said. "It feels great. This was a great test."
NCA senior Trevor Ekberg echoed Granquist's thoughts.
"They wanted it just as bad we we did," Ekberg said. "It was just a great game overall."
This game was played before a crowd that filled the Bark River-Harris gym on both sides, as well as in the balcony.
Parking spots were at a premium, as many people resorted to parking their cars alongside US-2 all the way to the Island Resort and Casino entrance.
Travis Vincent rebound and hoop underneath
Things got wild at one point in the second quarter when a Menominee County Sheriff's Deputy had to eject a rowdy fan. But on the court, it was simply 32 minutes of intense basketball, between a group of guys who know each other so well that there were no secrets about what would transpire.
North Central had the lead pretty much all night long, but could not shake the determined Wolves. The Jets led, 19-14, after the first quarter, but when Wolves sophomore Manuel Duran drained a three-pointer, the game was tied at 31-31.
Then came a big turning point, as the Jets scored the final ten points of the first half to take a 41-31 lead into the dressing room.
With 2.6 seconds left in the half, Ekberg was fouled while shooting a three. As he was going to the line, Polfus was called for a technical foul that gave the Jets the chance to score five points, and have possession of the ball with 2.6 seconds left.
Trevor Ekberg, Rob Granquist make 4 FT
"That was a big momentum switch for us, being able to get that ten-point lead going into half," NCA Coach Adam Mercier said. "But you're never comfortable with a lead against Carney."
"It was just too much buit-up anger," Polfus said of his technical. "I went in the locker room at the half and calmed myself. Did a lot better job in the second half of being calm. I have to learn to do that a little bit better."
Carney closed to within 47-45 late in the quarter, and the Jets were in foul trouble, having been whistled 12 times to just two fouls on the Wolves.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Granquist came through with a str0ng drive to the basket for two. That made it a 49-45 game, and settled the Jets' nerves a bit.
"I thought that was huge," Mercier said. "Robbie is just a natural leader. He just steps up at big times. He hit a big shot there. They had the momentum going because we had a really poor offensive third quarter.
"I thought he came through with a big bucket there and it gave us some breathing room heading into the fourth quarter," Mercier continued.
Rob Granquist hoop ends 3rd quarter
In the fourth quarter, the game remained close, but Carney never could gain the lead.
The Jets had to be careful, though, because they were in severe foul trouble.
"We had four kids with four fouls (each)," Mercier said. "I thought we'd be able to withstand foul trouble because of our bench. Tyler Polfus and Caleb Martin came off the bench and gave us some great minutes tonight. We hung in there."
A killer for the Wolves happened with less than a minute left in the game when freshman Jason Whitens stole an inbounds pass and scored.
Lights out!
When it was over, there was a lot of respect from the Jets players toward the Wolves.
"They play hard and Jake is a great coach," Granquist said of the Wolves. "These guys are gonna come out and give you everything they've got. We were just able to come out on top."
"This is huge," Ekberg said. "Us seniors have been playing against their seniors for four years now. We know each other like the back of each other's hands. We both came out fighting. Neither one of us wanted to lose this game."
Keenan Lampinen attacks basket for CN
"I thought we had our chances that we wanted," Polfus said. "A lot of shots that went in-and-out. Give North Central credit. They fought back each and every time."
Granquist led the Jets with 20 points, while Vincent added 19 and Whitens contributed 14. North Central stayed undefeated on the season with a 23-0 record.
"Being a coach, it never gets any easier," Polfus said. "Losing these five seniors, and the way they've grown over this year, it's really tough."
For North Central, the dream lives on.
The boys will make the short trip to Escanaba for the regional tournament Monday night, where they will face the Munising Mustangs.
Munising is 19-3, with two of its losses coming to the Jets. Game time is 6:00 ET/5:00 CT at the Escanaba High School Gym Monday night. The second semifinal pits Crystal Falls Forest Park against Lake Linden-Hubbell, at 7:45 ET/6:45 CT.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box to see photos and videos from the game, and to listen to post-game interviews.
